How can the Bahá’í Writings inspire efforts to advance racial equity in education? This session explores how Roots ConnectED applies principles of unity and justice to foster inclusive learning environments. By integrating spiritual and intellectual insights into professional development, we support educators in building equitable schools. We will share lessons from our work, highlighting engagement in discourse, collaboration with scholars, and contributions to systemic change. Participants will reflect on their role in fostering unity and explore how Bahá’í teachings can inform efforts to create learning spaces that honor diversity and nurture belonging.
Sahba Rohani is the Executive Director of Roots ConnectED, which she co-founded in 2017 to transform schools and workplaces. With decades of experience in education and community development, she is dedicated to building community across lines of difference. Sahba speaks nationally... Read More →
Saturday August 2, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT Glen 205South building - 2nd level
Although intellectual pursuits and scientific inquiry are encouraged in the Baha’i Faith, offering a harmonizing counterpart to religion, what is the role of reasoning in spiritual development? This session examines the centrality of logic and reasoning in spiritual education, drawing from past Holy Scriptures and Bahá’í Writings. Together, we will explore ways such a capacity can be developed, and will reflect on its implications on the spiritual education of children and youth, and our engagement in community and social discourse. Additionally, we will discuss how studying the logic in Baha’i Writings can facilitate meaningful and coherent contributions to ethics-based curricula.
Contemporary psychological theories of parenting, which inform scientific research and advice, rarely address spiritual education and often rely on individualistic frameworks. In contrast, the Bahá’í Teachings place spiritual education at the center of a child’s development and society’s transformation. This session will explore how the Bahá’í view of a two-fold moral purpose offers a unique conceptual framework for parenting and fostering spiritual growth in children. We will examine how this perspective interacts with current scientific knowledge and informs parenting practices, as well as how it can contribute to conversations with others about spiritual and moral development.
Dr. Victoria Talwar is a Professor, Canada Research Chair (I), and Director of the Gold Centre for Early Childhood Development at McGill University. Her research is in the area of developmental psychology with an emphasis on social-cognitive development and moral development.
Saturday August 2, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT Glen 205South building - 2nd level
This presentation examines the role of service-learning in the moral and intellectual empowerment of students in a Baha’i-inspired secondary school. Elements our service-learning framework includes a school culture of service and moral capability development, the implementation of “The World Citizenship Curriculum”, and collaboration with the Baha’i Training Institute. Through this framework, students translate knowledge into meaningful service, nurture moral development and enhance understanding of and commitment to addressing social realities. We will discuss the impact of this framework on students, questions and challenges and its implications for the discourse on education.
Tahirih Naylor has a law degree in international, comparative and transnational law. She was a representative for the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations for four years then went on to become an Associate Professor at Brescia University. She is currently the Chair... Read More →
Gordon Naylor has completed graduate studies in international education and educational administration. Mr.Naylor is the the Executive Director of his privately owned social service agency for residential treatment which now employs more than three hundred and fifty employees and... Read More →
Sonja Rowhani has a M.Sc. in Computer Science. She currently serves as Vice Principal at Nancy Campbell Academy. Her interests lie at the intersection and integration of spiritual and material education.
Shabnam Tashakour has an M.A. in Child Studies and Education and is a Certified Teacher in Ontario. She has worked in the field of Education and community development both within and outside of the Baha’i community. She is currently teaching and coordinating the service-learning... Read More →
Saturday August 2, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm MDT Glen 205South building - 2nd level
